A Regency Christmas Pact Collection by Ava Stone, Catherine Gayle, Jerrica Knight-Catania, Julie Johnstone, Jane Charles, Aileen Fish

eyes.  “I didn’t want you to worry. I thought it would pass.”
    More than a sennight? And he hadn’t told her? Tessie’s mouth fell open, not sure what to say. She reached forward and squeezed her uncle’s hand. “I need to worry about you. You’re all I have. You worry about me .”
    Finally, his gaze lifted to meet hers. “But you should have more than that, sweetheart. More than worrying about a silly old man.”
    He was hardly a silly old man. He’d raised from the time she was very young. He’d doted on her, cared for her nearly all her life. It was only fair she return the favor. “Uncle Martin,” she began with a placating tone.
    "Ah,” came Lord Berkswell’s voice from the doorway. “You are looking much better today, Mr. Pratt.”
    The sound of his voice stilled Tessie’s heart. The memory of their kiss from the night before washed over her once more. Heavens, what he must think of her! Then dread filled her. She knew, of course, what he thought of her. There was no reason to wonder about it.
    “Doctor Clarke says I have you to thank, Lord Berkswell,” Uncle Martin replied. “I’m forever in your debt.”
    “If you’ll let me borrow your niece for a moment, we’ll call it even.”
    Tessie’s breath caught in her throat, and she slowly turned her head to meet the marquess’s gaze. “You want to see me ?” she asked breathlessly, barely recognizing her own voice.
    The intensity of his warm gaze made her mouth go dry. She’d dreamt about those eyes, the serious jut to his jaw.  She’d dreamt about that kiss and how it had felt to be wrapped in his arms. The marquess nodded slowly, his gaze never wavering from hers. “If your uncle doesn’t mind.”
    “Go, go.” Uncle Martin pulled his hand from her grasp. “I’ll still be here when you get back.”
    Lord Berkswell lifted out a hand towards Tessie, urging her to go with him. She didn’t really have a choice, and while she wanted to go to him, felt drawn to him, Tessie knew, deep down, that he’d break her heart. He’d say something like he always did, reminding her once more about her fallen state. And after their kiss… Well, she just didn’t think her heart could take it.
    “Come along, Miss Birkin,” the marquess said softly. “I won’t keep you from your uncle’s bedside too long.”
    Against her better judgment, Tessie slid from the edge of her uncle’s bed and accepted Lord Berkswell’s outstretched hand. His fingers closed around hers and tingles raced across her skin. Oh, this was not a good idea. But she allowed him to lead her from her uncle’s chambers anyway.
    Once alone in the corridor, the marquess directed her towards a small sitting room just down the hallway. “Have you ever found wisdom in the most unlikely of places?”
    Tessie stumbled, not certain where that line of questioning was coming from. “I beg your pardon?”
    Lord Berkswell kept her on her feet, though one questioning brow shot upwards. “You all right?”
    A bit embarrassed, Tessie nodded quickly. “Just clumsy, my lord.”
    “Berks,” he said, his dark gaze boring into hers once more as he stopped at a white brocade settee. “And I’d like very much to call you Theresa.”
    Tessie blinked up at him, not sure what to say. “You want to call me Theresa?”
    “For the rest of my life,” he agreed with a nod, gesturing for her to sit.
    What in the world did he mean by that? “And yet you want me to call you Berks? That’s hardly your given name,” she replied as she took a spot on the settee.
    A smile tipped his lips and Tessie was certain she’d never seen a more handsome sight. “No one has called me anything else in nearly twenty years.” He assumed the spot beside her, his knee pressed against her thigh, sending frissons of desire shooting through her.  “But once upon a time, my father called me Everett.”
    Everett. What a nice, strong name. It suited him much more than Berks did. “And that’s your given name, not